Heating apparatus



Apr. 24, 1923.

R.A.BALCOM HEATING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1921 i 1 i at 111 I A 1 INVENTOR a monflfiaiaom,

2 s .1. 5w A 52 M o a 6 3 0 M m 2 WITNESS 1 do, 9 7 2 9 2 v 7 F0 1 1'1 2 l J J ATTORN ?etented Apr. 24, 1923.

warren STATES,

1,452,354 PATENT QFFECET.

RAYMOND A. BALCOM, OF AKRON, OHIO.

HEATING APPARATUS.

Application filed Harch 3, 1921. Serial 10. 449,588.

an improved 1i uid fuel consuming device for heaters an furnaces, together with means for mixing liquid-fuel and air together and supplying the combination to a furnace or the like. v

A further object is to provide in the most compact form possible a rotary'air pump, having means to regulate the intake of air and tapering towards its outlet in such manner as to have a tendency to compress the air passing therethrough,for the purpose of increasing its velocity towards and into a com-1 bustion chamber.

A still further object is to providea spiral or screw feed actuated by direct contact with the rotor of the rotary air pump, and to which feed runs the supply-line carrying the liquid-fuel employed, said feed conveying the said fuel into the combustion chamber of a furnace or the like, substantially centrally positioned with respect to the air draft from the blower or air propeller, said fuel being broken up and dispersed in order to thoroughly mix with the forced air draft by means of a set of vanes carried by the fuelpropelling shaft.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention comprises further detail of construction and operation hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing an electric motor connected therewith; and Fig. 2 is a vertical diametrical and longitudinal section of the improved device, omitting, however, the motor-drive.

Referring to the drawings, any desired type of furnace or boiler 1 is shown as comprising a combustion chamber 2, having an aperture 3 in one side thereof, through which extends a spiral pipe 4, provided adjacent to the outer side of said combustion chamber with an air-mixing regulator 5 and with a regulatingvalve 6,said pipe leading from a suitable source of supply (not shown) but preferably from an ordinary gas-mam.

The wall of said combustion chamber is furthermore provided with arelativel much larger aperture 7, in alignment with which. is secured to said wall a tubular member 8,,,provided at itsouter free end with a flanged portion 9 internally threaded at 10 for the reception of a threaded reduced end portion 11 of a conical casin 12, flared in turn at its outer end to provi e a peripheral flange 13, having fixedly secured thereto a plane disc 14 provided with spaced apertures 1 5, and a central boss '16.

Rotatably mounted upon said boss is a plane disc 17 provided with an operating handle 18 and. spaced apertures 19, adapted to assume positions either in partial or complete registration with the apertures 15, for the purpose of positively regulating the passage of air through-said last-named apertures. The peripheral edge portion of the disc 17 is restrained against separation from the disc 14 and movement longitudinally of the boss 16 b means of screws or bolts 20 relativel sli able in enlarged segmental arcs 21 in said outer disc, said bolts simultaneously serving to secure the disc 14 to the flange 13. I

The boss 16 is provided with a central aperture 22 to form a journal for ashaft 23 adapted to be revolved at'any desired speed by means of an electrically-driven motor 24,

which latter may be secured either directly to a base 25 which su ports the casing 12 through the medium of a frame 26, or said motor may be directly secured to a frame %7, which in turn is mounted upon the said ase. The reduced end portion 11 of the said casing is provided with an axially. bored spider 28, through which is also journalled the shaft 23, which latter between the said spider and the said hos 16 has secured thereto a conical member 29, to the outer surface of which is secured either a continuous spiral flange or broken spaced fins 30, which latter may either be in helical alignment with one another or may be angularly positioned with respect to a helical line passing through their centers and spirally about the said conical supporting member 29.

The tubular member 8 is provided preferably upon its upper side with an internally threaded. boss 31, through which extends preferably in threaded alignment or relation a liquid supply pipe 32, provided with a regulating valve 33 and leading thereto from any suitable source (not shown). The longitudinal position of the said pipe 32 may be maintained by means of a lockbolt 34, while the inner end portion of said pipe enters one side of a tube 35 ad acent to one end of a spiral feed screw 36, revolvably mounted within and slidably c ooperating with the inner surface of said last-named tube and carried by the motordriven shaft 23.

This last-named tube is preferably provided internally with a partition 37 surrounding the said shaft and affording a space between said partition and the spider 28, adapted for the retention of a suitable packing to prevent the liquid-fuel from flowing alon the shaft 23 towards the rotary air-impel er 2930.

The inner free end of the driving-shaft is provided adjacent to the termination of the threaded portion 36 with a series of vanes 39, which latter revolvin at high speed catch the steady flow of hquid-fluel throu h the feed-screw and break it up so that it is thoroughly intermixed with the air current which flows more swiftly through the tube 8.

When the apparatus is not functioning, the spiral tube 4 is adapted to maintain a low flame of illuminating gas or the like, so that when the motor 24 is started and the valve 33 operated to admit the desired amount of fuel to, the feed-screw 36, said fuel is ignited by said spiral tube as soon as it reaches the revolving vanes 39.

Furthermore, if desired, a suitable arrangement may be afforded whereby the operation of the fuel supply system automatically cuts off the supply of gas to the spiral, so that even the slightest expense in maintaining the spiral is thereby eliminated. Additionally, slight changes may be made in the details of construction and assemblage of the elements entering into this device without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by. Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A fuel feeding mechanism, comprisaaeaeee ing a conical casing, a conical drum within and substantially uniformly spaced from the sides of said casing throughout "its axial extent, air-propelling means carried by said drum, means to rotate said drum to force air towards and from the smaller end of said casing, and means adjacent to the outlet end of said casing operative to mix a liquid fuel with the air passing therefrom.

2. A fuel feeding mechanism, comprising a conical casing, a conical drum within and spaced throughout its longitudinal ex tent substantiall uniformly from the inner sides of sai casing, spaced air-propelling means carried by and substantially throughout the length of said drum, means to rotate said drum to force air towards and from the smaller end of said casing, in combination with a hollow member connected with said casing and adapted to receive air leaving the outlet in the latter, a tubular memberjwithin said hollow member, a rotatable spiral feeding member within said tubular member, means to convey liquid fuel into said tubular member, the,

air and fuel being brought into contact and intermixed as they leave the respective hollow and tubular members.

3. A fuel feeding mechanism, comprising a conical casing, a conical drum within and spaced throughout its longitudinal extent substantially uniformly froin the in ner sides of said casing, air-propelling means carried by and impelling the air throughout the extent of said drum, means to rotate said drum to force air under constantly increasing pressure towards and from the smaller end of said casing, in combination with a tubular conduit connected with and n registry with the outlet from said casing, a tubular member within and spaced from the. inner walls of said conduit, a rotary spiral -feeding'member within said tubular member, means to convey liquid fuel into said tubular member, connectionsbetween said drum and said feeding member for rotating the latter, and means carried by and rotatable with said feeding member to atomize fuel passing through said member and to unite the fuel with the air.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

RAYMOND A. BALCOM. 

